May 17, 1996

A forum on residential development attracted close to 250 people to the high school auditorium Tuesday night. It drew calls for changes in local zoning regulations, a suggestion for a moratorium on residential growth in Newtown, and a reminder that the construction work fuels the local economy.

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Newtown High School’s road toward a new mascot took a step forward this week with the announcement of the top five candidates. The final contestants, as voted on by students in eight through twelfth grades, include the Blue Knights, the Dragons, the Eagles, the Lightning, and the Night Hawks. To the surprise of some, there was no sign of the Yak.

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The Fairfield Hills Implementation Oversight Committee (FHIOC), a state ad hoc panel created to monitor future land uses at the Fairfield Hills grounds, conducted its first meeting May 10 at the state Office on Policy and Management (OPM) in Hartford. Task force members decided to create the FHIOC to ensure that the task force’s recommendations for the 650-acre parcel are kept in mind as the state puts the parcel to new uses in the future. Fairfield Hills closed as a psychiatric hospital last December... One of the initial reasons the task force was formed was to prevent the state Department of Corrections from building another prison at Fairfield Hills.

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The Police Commission has hired three new officers who will be entering the state’s Municipal Police Training Academy in Meriden for law enforcement training before being sworn in as patrolmen. Newly hired are Jason Frank, 24, Patricia Sperling, 25, and Dan Cacace, 23.

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In an effort to hold the line on school transportation costs, Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed plans to reduce the number of school bus stops for students next year. The new system would require more collection points and fewer stops at individual houses. School Business Director John Torok said a five mile bus run with 50 stops would be reduced to 25 stops, cutting back on time and fuel, the cost of which has been steadily rising at the pumps lately.

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It took a career effort from senior captain Marnie Larabee in the 1600 meter, but the Newtown High girls’ track and field team finished its second-consecutive unbeaten season when it knocked off Joel Barlow on Tuesday.

May 14, 1971

The past two week-ends have been victorious ones for the Newtown Belvederes as they added more trophies to their large collection. On Saturday, May 1, the guard came in fourth in the NEIPA Grand National Color Guard Championship at the Danbury War Memorial, and their captain, Mary Ann Kayfus, came in first. The guard was also awarded the Commissioner’s Trophy, which is a sportsmanship award.

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Postal rates are headed up again as of Sunday, May 16. For first class mail, a stamp will cost you eight instead of six cents. Postcards will be six instead of five cents. Air mail goes up a penny to 11 cents and air postcards will be seven cents.

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The Park and Recreation Commission, in its regular monthly meeting, May 11, voted unanimously to continue working toward the procurement of a full-time recreation director. “Because we need one,” was the prime reason.

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On April 27, David Brown of Hattertown Road was sworn in as sexton of Taunton Cemetery. Mr Brown, a math teacher at Newtown High School, applied for the job to the Board of Selectmen because of his personal interest in seeing that the old neglected cemeteries in Newtown are restored and kept from falling into the run-down condition that many of them have.

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Edward Sullivan has announced that Newtown’s Fourth of July fireworks will be on Saturday evening, July 3, at 9 pm at the Town Park. The end of the annual Progress Festival will be the annual parade which will be Monday, September 6. Further details and names of committee members will be announced next week.

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The Parent-Teacher-Student Association of Newtown High School met Monday night. The issue of smoking for high school students was discussed and the organization adopted the following resolution: Smoking should be permitted for students in the high school for a one-month trial period, on the patio. Students may smoke, regardless of age, unless they have written notice from parents refusing permission. The smoking area is to be policed or supervised by the students.

May 10, 1946

A panorama of songs, dances, demonstrations and relay races swept over the floor of the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium last Friday night, as various youth clubs of the town gave an evening of entertainment. Floor productions included a lullabye folk song by the Blue Birds. In the competition among community youth clubs... the Camp Fire Girls won first place with the colorful presentation of “The Russian Peddlar.”

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Friday evening’s special town meeting attracted more than one hundred taxpayers and voters who spent more than two hours in discussion of town roads... during the evening’s meeting the fact was brought out that contractors’ bids being made to the state for road work are excessively high, which has halted construction generally throughout the state... Voicing the sentiment of the meeting was rebuilding the 1-3/4-mile stretch of road in Palestine, finally brought before those present who voted in favor.

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One of Newtown’s poultry fanciers, pained by the gradual disappearance of his chickens and suspecting a pilfering rodent, set a trap. Bright and early one morning last week, on his inspection, he discovered to his amazement, not one, but three thieves securely held by the steel band and very much dead. As felons are wont to stick together, the chicken owner is puzzled as to whether he has discovered a mass conspiracy or a mass suicide.

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Vote for the King and Queen of Mardi Gras! Now is your chance to see your favorite crowned at a fitting ceremony in the streets of New Orleans Mardi Gras, Edmond Town Hall gymnasium, on Saturday, June 1st. The voting starts next Monday when the tickets to the Mardi Gras go on sale for 25 cents. The vaudeville bill is being completed and will feature two acts from Coach DeGroat’s Hawley Circus and a group of gymnasts from the Waterbury Girls Club, and various professional acts and the thrilling finals of a ping-pong tournament. Each class of the Congregational Sunday school is presenting a feature of the entertainment.

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Sgt “Dave” Crouch arrived in New York on a Victory Ship from Brennerhaven, Germany, on April 29th, and after a short visit with his sister, Mrs Fred Rees, in New York City, will resume his duties in Newtown. “Dave” is a happy fellow to be home again.

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Private Robert F. Peck, son of Mr and Mrs J.W. Peck of South Center received his honorable discharge from the Army on Saturday, May 4. He arrived in the United States May 2, after serving for one and a half years in the European theater of operations, with the 4th Armored Division. He entered the Army three years ago on April 29th.

April 29, 1921

The barn of Charles Minor of Berkshire burned to the ground, Wednesday night. The fire started about 10:30 o’clock, and was discovered by Bert Dean, who rented the barn for garage purposes. People responded to the alarm from Sandy Hook and Newtown. Fortunately there was no danger to the adjacent buildings. There was no insurance on the barn, which would cost about $1,000 to replace.

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Butter, 49 cents; cheese, 33 cents; pure lard, 16 cents; Uban coffee, 38 cents; Campbell’s soups, 10 cents a can; Campbell’s beans, 10 cents a can; Kirkman’s soup, 2 for 15 cents; Gold Medal and Pillsbury flour, $1.39; White Loaf flour, $1.35; granulated sugar, 12 lbs for $1. —At Davey’s, Adv.

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Young people’s night at Pootatuck Grange was observed with an interesting lecturer’s program: Vocal solo by Mrs Carlson; readings by Raymond Hall; Baloptican pictures on France by Robert Tiemann; recitation by Miss May Hoyt; picture guessing contest by Frank Platt; and humorous stories by Elliott Platt. Refreshments of ice cream and cake were served.

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The old High school property including an acre and one quarter of land and all the buildings, was up at auction on Saturday at 2 o’clock by Auctioneer Charles F. Beardsley. There were about 20 people out to look the property over, but no one seemed very anxious about it. The first bid was for only $75, but it quickly rose to $500. Clark S. Blackman bid $650, and as there was no one who desired it for more than that amount, it was sold under the hammer to him. Mr Blackman plans to open a new garage on the property.

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Moving Pictures and Dance, Town Hall, Newtown, Saturday Night, April 30. Mary Miles Minter in “Anne of Green Gables.” Regular prices again. Saturday Night, May 7, Allan Dwan in “Soldiers Of Fortune.” More ladies are wanted for dancing.

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Mr and Mrs Charles Jackson gave one of their very popular dances, last Friday evening. There were about 100 guests present, including friends from Brookfield, Danbury, Bethel, Bridgeport and New Milford. A dainty luncheon was served at midnight. An orchestra from Patterson, N.Y. furnished find music for the dancing. The party broke up about 4 am.

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